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Carlisle auction of late TV celebrity's possessions

An eclectic mix of the possessions of one of Britain’s best-loved celebrities have been sold at auction in Carlisle.

Clarissa Dickson Wright

About 100 people packed into the Shaddongate saleroom of Thomson Roddick and Medcalf to place their offers on items which belonged to the late Clarissa Dickson Wright.

Ms Dickson Wright found fame in the 1990s when she appeared in the cookery programme Two Fat Ladies, alongside Jennifer Paterson. She died in March this year, aged 66.

Hundreds of items were on sale at the event.

They ranged from boxes of books – many of which were signed by their authors and featured her personal bookmark – to pieces of art and more unusual items such as toilet roll holders in the shapes of a terrier and a woman with a labrador and a silver marrow spoon.

Jeanette Moscrop travelled to the event from Bewcastle, near Longtown. She said: “I have an interest in Clarissa Dickson Wright. I greatly admired her.”

She was at the event with friend Allison Roberts, who added: “I admired her because she carried on through adversity and kept a positive outlook on life.”

Miss Dickson Wright, who had suffered at the hands of her abusive father, became England’s youngest barrister at the age of 21. She also endured bouts of alcoholism and homelessness.

She was also a supporter of hunting, which is why Elli Logan, who lives outside Carlisle attended the sale. “She spoke out for the campaign to defend country sports,” she said.

“She was a great character.”

Liz Wilkinson, who lives in the Bailey Valley, near Bewcastle, said: “I admired her enormously and I met her three times so thought it would be nice to get a special memory if I can.”

Elaine Stevenson, of Denton Holme, Carlisle, added: “I come to auctions about three times a year but I find this really interesting because I used to live in Edinburgh (where Ms Dickson Wright lived and ran a bookshop)”.

She was interested in Staffordshire pottery and bronzes.

However, she was unsure what she would bid for.

As he started taking bids John Thomson, the auctioneer, said: “She was certainly a character and she will be missed.”

The auction also saw people bid for pictures of Dalziel and Pascoe creator Reginald Hill.